How To Deal with a Decisionmaker Who Can't or Won't Make a Decision

Nonprofit Power Podcast

Nonprofit Power Podcast
How To Deal with a Decisionmaker Who Can't or Won't Make a Decision
Apr 27, 2025 Episode 92
Kath Patrick

It's time to talk about one of the most frustrating things that can get in an advocate's way: when you've got a decisionmaker that, no matter what you do or say, no matter how hard you push them, it feels like they just will never commit to anything. They either can't or won't make a decision. It can leave an advocate just about tearing their hair out in frustration.

It can turn into a huge time suck. You're trying all these different angles to try to figure out, how do I get through to this person? How do I get them off the dime and make them take an action? To do something already! I've been there and I know what it's like. 

When there's a decisionmaker who can't or won't make a decision, there's a reason behind that. But the stated reason and the real reason are often very different. We have to become detectives to figure out what's really going on. What is the actual reason?

Because here's the thing. How likely is it we're going to just luck into the right messaging or the right strategy if we don't really know what's causing them to fail to make a decision? If we want to figure out the right strategy to make them actually take an action, to move to a decision, the first thing we've got to do is understand why they're not doing that now

I want to share with you a process you can use to uncover what’s really going on with that decisionmaker, and how to build a strategy to get them to take action. 

 

In this episode, we share:

  • The six most common reasons behind that indecision 
  • The surprising ways fear affects a decisionmaker’s thinking
  • The two best strategies to get to the bottom of what’s causing your decsiionmaker’s indecision
  • How to read behavioral cues that will tell you what’s driving the decisionmaker
  • Key strategies you can use to address the causes of the indecision, and move the decisionmaker to action

 

I'm preparing to launch a group coaching program that will focus specifically on helping you craft messaging that will shift decisionmakers’ perspectives and get them on board with sustaining and even expanding your funding. This will be a coaching opportunity for a limited number of people to come in and be part of a group. There'll be some training, but most of it will be coaching and helping you to get your messaging dialed in so that you can address this pressing need.  

What I'm seeing right now is there's nothing more important than this. If that sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, message me through the podcast website or on LinkedIn